Jobcentre – Ten applicants per job

There is an average of 10 jobseekers for every vacant position advertised by UK jobcentres.

The trade union body said the ratio – which applies to unemployed people who are claiming jobseeker allowance – had more than doubled over the past year.
The TUC said that while 10 unemployed people were chasing every advertised job in January of 2009, a year earlier it was only four per vacancy.
In 25 council areas there were now more than 20 people per job, it added.

“Rising unemployment has been matched by an equally shocking decline in job vacancies,” said TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber.
“The government can no longer claim there is plenty of work available when there are as many as 20 dole claimants per jobcentre vacancy in parts of the country.”